Research Interests

My research focuses on the ways in which literary texts and literary studies more generally can be of social, cultural, pedagogical and individual use, among others in contexts of health and illness. To explore these potentials, I draw on theories of usability and adaptation and postcritical approaches to understand the multiple and unexpected affordances of (small) forms, such as metaphors, stereotypes and (serial) narratives. My research investigates the practices at work in between polar opposites such as beneficial/harmful (e.g., illness metaphors, age stereotypes) and success/failure (e.g., aging) by looking into the creative strategies artists use to navigate these dualities and to explore them for their healing, therapeutic and reparative capacities. I have worked with literary texts, autobiographical writing and visual media (e.g., films, TV series) and have long-standing experience with working across disciplines and at the intersections of academic fields, such as age studies, Narrative Medicine and Medical Humanities.

My new research project focuses on political and cultural radicalization and polarization in the context of health. I focus on abortion and the narratives through which abortion experiences and political views on abortion are conveyed. I explore how - that is, by which stylistic, formal and narrative means - radical positions are expressed on a topic that is inherently complex. By focusing on cultural and aesthetic dimensions, this research contributes to a better understanding of how form and content interact. The broader aim and hope is to translate these insight into health care contexts, where the negative impact of radical and polarized discourses are increasingly felt, for example in the erosion of trust. This is a problem because trust is fundamental to the relationship between patient and health care provider.

American Studies, Medical Humanities, Narrative Medicine, Age Studies, uses of literature, metaphors, stereotypes, seriality, life writing, polarization, abortion

At SDU, I am the co-coordinator of the Narrative Medicine track in the Health department. More information on Narrative Medicine at SDU here.